Lessons Learned…Give Something Back
This weekend I was asked to help out with a friends CNA graduation project. My friend just completed a Certified Nursing Assistant Program, and the class wanted to do a video for their graduation. Since I have some video skills, I was asked to participate and help out with the project. To be perfectly honest, participating in nursing home activities, is a little out of my comfort zone.
I am a big proponent of stretching outside of our comfort level, so I knew I had to “Put my money where my mouth is.” In the end I really enjoyed the day, and my GIVE BACK turned into a rewarding GIFT TO MYSELF…Be sure to watch the video at the end. It ties this whole story all together. Very Powerful!
What Is To Be Uncomfortable About?
If you think about it, what is to be scared of? God willing, we are all going to get old, and face the same challenges of losing our physical abilities, and possibly our mental faculties. Two instances in my early years had an impact on my views of the nursing home environment. To be honest with you, these two instances really freaked me out.
The first time I got really freaked out, I was about 5 or 6 years old. My mom worked as a social worker in social services for the state of Michigan. We had other family members who worked at the local mental health facility…
My mom decided to get together with some friends and take their families Christmas Caroling to a local retirement home. Looking back I’m sure my mom wanted to teach her kids a lesson on giving back. The caroling at the retirement home went off without a hitch and was kind of fun. (To the best of my recollection)…
Victories and Fears Imprinted Early On in Life
I’m sure the next stop on our Christmas Caroling route has something to do with my association and FEAR of visiting retirement homes. We next visited, a mental health facility. This is where I got completely FREAKED OUT. Thanks MOM! Just kidding. I know she meant well. The purpose of this is not to be insensitive to the needs of the mentally challenged.
I guess this weekend just made me reflect on why I was apprehensive to participate in the project over the weekend. So back to the horror film I experienced through the eyes of a six year old…
As we were Singing Christmas songs, I was well aware of my surroundings. We ended up on a hall that had to be the patients with the most challenging mental faculties. All I remember is a young man, probably in his teens, wearing a helmet and riding a skateboard. As I six year I knew something wasn’t right as he locked eyes with me. He was on his knees on the skateboard so we were pretty much at the same level.
He rushed across the room and went straight for my dad’s leg. He violently grabbed onto my dad’s leg and would not let go. The entire group of Christmas Carolers was ahead of us, singing away as my dad and I were completely freaking out. I chuckle now as I recall this incident, but needless to say it freaked both me and my dad out…
We spent the rest of the evening sipping hot chocolate in the warmth of the the running car, as the rest continued on with the singing. I’m sure my dad had a little peppermint schnapps in his hot chocolate to calm his nerves…My heart is racing as I writing this. I’m 38 years old now and it still has an impact on me.
The Second “Traumatic” Experience Imprinting Fear in a Young Mind
As an eighth grader I was President of my junior high student council. One of the activities we participated in after school was “Adopt a Grandparent” at the same nursing home I described above. My best friend, Butch Callison, and I had the same adopted grandparent. Her name was Ruth.
Ruth was really with it mentally and was a joy to be around. She has some problems with her vision and could no longer take care of herself as she could in her early days. I remember she made us a decorative trashcan as a Christmas project. It must have taken quite a bit of time to make. It had rolled up magazine pages, wrapped around pipe cleaners…Each pipe cleaner was glued all the way around the trash can. It must have taken hours to complete. I still remember everything about Ruth to this day…
One day as I was visiting Ruth, I walked down her hall. I was by myself for some reason. Butch wasn’t with me. I remember a lady who was extremely agitated. She could not speak, and could only make sounds. As I walked by she grabbed onto me and would not let go. She obviously wanted something and I felt helpless as I did not know how I could help.
I had to rip myself away and keep walking. I felt completely helpless, as if I should have done something. Being 14, that impacted me, and I still think about it sometimes. This weekend’s video project, really made me reflect on why I was so apprehensive to participate. Wow, therapy! I’m so glad I did… You have to watch this video and see why. For those with a short attention span, skip forward to about 3 mins… That is Powerful Stuff!!!
Give Yourself A Gift Today…
Watch This All The Way Through
To The END
Giving Something Back…I learned, You Get More Than You Can Give
There is nothing better for facing a fear than just diving in head first and abolishing your fears. My hat is off to my friends in the CNA program who give back to the community on a daily basis. It takes a special person to do the job they do. Some the activities they do daily for their job, are taking vital signs, feeding, daily grooming and personal care, being there to listen, engaging the residents in fun activities, and all in all, just being there…
Again my hat is off. Thank you for letting me participate in this project. Even though my past fears made put me in a state of mind where I absolutely did not want to participate in this project…You will see at the end of this video that I was someone that got more out of the experience than anyone else. Thank you for encouraging me to face my fears. Givers Get! It is impossible to give without receiving. They are two sides of the same coin.
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Dear Nick, What a touching video. Doesn’t it feel powerful when you come over those old childhood “fears” that are deeply ingrained into the mind? I know those feelings NEVER go away, but can be TRANSFORMED. Eurika! You’ve done it. I think we all have those feelings inside us that are attached since childhood. The way to get over it is to just do it like you did. This applies to Success in our industry too. I am sure that EVERYONE in this market has some painful associations of success from childhood voices and memories.
Once we understand what they truly are, like you did, we can overcome them and do ANYTHING.
Thank you Nick for this Powerful Post.
Regards, Donna Merrill
Thank you so much Donna. I am really hoping people watch that video all the way through… not for me, but for the viewer. I think it is a really powerful message. I could have easily made up an excuse or found a way to get out of that commitment. I am so glad I did not.
Nick – Ok – WOW – This was really emotional on so many levels that I am not sure where to begin. First off it is a great video and you did your friends justice. Secondly, this was an awesome post on overcoming your fears! Everyone will be able to relate to this one:)
.-= Glyna Humm´s last blog ..OnlyWire – Social Bookmarking’s BFF! =-.
Thanks Glyna. I just knew I had to share this after the weekend.
Dearest Nick,
I am so happy that I took the time to watch this video. Congratulations to all the CNA grads and my most heartfelt thanks for their willingness to help so many people who need their support. I have been hospitalized a great deal in recent years and I am so grateful to the men and women who are willing to help people do all of the necessary, but messy, parts of life. We couldn’t do it without you! Your loving and gracious support makes us feel so much more comfortable. You are appreciated!
Nick, thank you for sharing such a personal part of your growth. I think that you are pretty similar to lots of people. I have put my children in similar situations (I would probably love your mom!), so I will have to ask them how they are feeling about it. I am pretty sure that my son (15 yrs old) feels like you did at that time. We go feed the homeless regularly and he refuses to go. I am sure that it is fear.
Like you, he is a wonderful, loving person, so his moment will come, just like yours did! You did a fantastic job on the video and the grads will have a precious memory. And YOU will have social proof that it is worthwhile to face your fears!
Fondly,
Mentor Mama
Thanks Nancy…Yes you would like my mom. You can take her under your wing as we talked about today… (Mentoring with the “Mentor Mama”)
Check her out at http://anniegetsreal.com... She is just getting started. I agree 100% with your thoughts on the people who give back with their skills and time like CNA’s. It takes a special person.
Hi Baby,
As I sit here with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I am overwhelmed with the thoughts and emotions I am experiencing.
First, allow me to offer my congratulations to the graduates of CNA. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to share in a very minute way their celebration and success. I was so inspired by what they have done I pondered, if only for a moment, is it too late, am I too old to do what they have done? Do you know what inspired me so much? No one does what they do without a whole lot of love and caring in their hearts. To be so giving and willing to provide help that is so critical to improve the quality of life of strangers is truly amazing and inspiring. So Kudos to all of you!
Nick, I am so proud of you that you chose to move out of your comfort zone to do something that obviously caused a great deal of anxiety to even thinking about. I know that you did so with love as your motivation.
As I read about your journey of discovering why the thought of making this documentary was so painful, I thought, oh my word I am such a bad mother – how did you and Mike manage turn out to be such great people inspite of me? I did not even remember until this moment those moments in our history. Having said that I must confess that I have my own set memories on the two situations you described and more.
I do recall hearing you and Dad recount the experience with the scate boarder. My impression; I could tell Dad was freaked out. You – not so much. You seemed to take it in stride even without the benefit of peppermint snapps.
I remember when you adopted a granny. Again, I was so proud of you. Certainly, I would have NEVER voluteered to do that at the ripe old age of 14. You may remember stories of how my mom worked at an agency for the developmentally disabled. From time to time she would drag me down there and I would have the privilege of doing things like help set out food for thier meals. So I get it.
I wonder if you remember when Grandma & Grampa Logan came to live with us so we could help with Grandpa’s care in his final stages of life? You and Mike were quite young. I think your were around 8 years old. As parents we did not take the potential impact this decision may have on you two. In fact, well intended individuals advised against it. I can only speak for myself when I say my concerns disapated as I watched the two of you interact with Grampa. Without asking or coaching you and Mike took it upon yourselves to do things like; feed and help Grampa get to the bathroom and read the Sunday comics to him because he could not read anymore. It still brings tears to my eyes to visualize how you went about helping a dying old man with love, care and concern with an understanding and wisdom beyond your years.
So, you see – I think you stepped out of your comfort zone a very long time ago. The difference? At 38 years old, you just have a better understanding of what love can accomplish.
Love Ya Mom
Isn’t blogging cool…Two Tears!
Nick,
Givers get! Right there that sums it up. Thanks for sharing such an awesome video. This was just as powerful as any training video we’ve seen or created. Because not only was it made from the heart, but it pushed your boundaries. Things that most see as limitations we see as another challenge to learn from.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
.-= Ken Pickard´s last blog ..Critical Review of Jonathan Budd’s MLM Launch Formula =-.
Nick,
Such an inspiring video filled with awesome people! There are some childhood memories that have a huge impact on us for years to come. Glad you were able to step off the ledge and discover that there was solid ground beneath you, not the unknown darkness of your old fears.
Thank you for sharing this experience and your thoughts with us,
Val
Philanthropy really is a powerful experience at any level! Thanks for sharing.
Hey Nick, This brought back some
powerful memories of hanging out
with my Grandmas last year as she
was dying in her rest home.
I was able to share my faith in
Christ Jesus and she accepted his
forgiveness for eternal life…
She shortly died after my visit.
She was dearly special to me
because she helped raise me as
my dad was single with me from
when I was one on…
Thanks for the special video.
Kary
.-= Kary Rogney´s last blog ..Blogging For Begginers: The ‘About Me’ Page… =-.
This is very timely video for me. Last week a friend of mine was moved to a Care Unit as he has Parkinson’s Disease and can no longer take adequate care of himself and I went over to visit him.
It was pretty hard core to see some of the inmates of the nursing home and realise that for some it will be their final home…. and yet the care I saw coming from the nursing staff and care givers was amazing. I used to be a volunteer visitor for an elderly gentleman who had no living relatives some years ago but I REALLY admire people who make a vocation out of caring for the elderly and the infirm.
Thanks for sharing!
PS LOVE your Mom’s message!!
.-= Sandhan´s last blog ..Begin with the End in Mind =-.
Nick,
Thank you for this post. It brought tears to my eyes. Your message is why we are here, to be a contribution. Facing our fears and when we are up to helping others, the small ego evaporates with our fears. Thank you for making my Sunday and for the ever important message.
Faith
.-= Faith Barnard´s last blog ..Creating Tribe Syndication within Your Network Marketing Team =-.
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